The chicken, or the egg?
Over the years I’ve noticed a distinct difference in the habits of elite and sub elite athletes. To expand the population size of my observation, the general mind set and verbiage used by most successful and consistent gym enthusiasts, whom I will define as “elite”, is vastly different compared to the on-and-off general population who are not as consistent, and often times unsuccessful. These folks I will refer to as “sub-elite.”
These are often the statements that are made by the sub-elite. “I’m going to really try to make such and such happen. As soon as the timing is right, I’m going to make such and such happen. I’d really like to do such and such. I need to get back to doing such and such.” However when it comes to elite athletes they don’t say anything. They simply start doing something or they make a change and then it simply happens. It’s done, and that’s the way it stays.
This left me thinking. Is it that those who naturally have the latter mind set simply gravitate towards athletics or similar endeavors? Or is it that athletics and similar endeavors teach and engrain these habits that are ultimately required for success? I’m sure both are true, but the important question is: how do the habits that lead to success become second nature?
Being very pragmatic is key to anything where success is truly desired. Set yourself up for success before anything even starts or changes. I’ll use my coach and colleague Eric Helms as an example first. He has meals delivered to him each and every day that include the vegetables that he knows he needs. That way he has no choice but to be successful. As for me, I keep 32oz bottles of water on my counter with water flavor nearby so that I will guzzle 32oz of tasty water at the beginning of each and every day. Right next to my bottles of water I have my juicer for juicing my fruits and vegetables and my vitamin E. These are all things I’ve neglected over the years. Not any more though, we’ve fixed those problems and it’s done.
It really doesn’t matter if you are the chicken or the egg, meaning whether athletics teaches you these behaviors, or you just have them, in the end you can be just as successful as the “elite” if you set yourself up for success by focusing on being uber-pragmatic, and modifying your environment so things get done!
It’s also funny that the most successful people in any field don’t have sexy habits or anything fancy. It’s the basics they work on and they just do it consistently.
Amen Tyson. Everyone waits for that high speed vehicle when you could actually start walking today. You’ll get there.